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We'd like to introduce you to our newest Solo Contributor, Jo Levy, a Chicago-based make-up artist with nearly 14 years industry experience. Jo is avidly committed to implementing and championing beauty products that exclusively fall under the clean/green/natural and organic category, which we are ALL about! She has been a beauty contributor and featured artist for over twenty publications including: The Zoe Report, The Huffington Post, Glamour, Ok! Weekly Magazine and New Beauty. She has previously appeared as a beauty expert on the Dr. Oz Show and Extra T.V. - need we say more?

Welcome to the Solo Tribe, Jo!

Check out more of her latest beauty tips on her website and you can follow her on Instagram: @Jo.Levy!

With the official Summer kick-off today, it’s the perfect opportunity to alter your beauty routine by brightening, hydrating and protecting the skin in addition to adding a hint of glow so your skin acts and appears vibrant and healthy. This means making some shifts to your typical makeup routine so that your skin can breathe a bit better in addition to switching to formulations that can provide a long-lasting yet light-weight finish on the skin. I’ve rounded up several of my top beauty picks for the summer season ahead below!

Complexion:

Foundation/Tinted Moisturizer

Recommended product:

For an absolutely flawless coverage without the heavy feel, I recommend switching from a traditional liquid foundation to a mineral based tinted moisturizer or BB Cream. One of my favorites that fit the bill is from Jane Iredale. Jane’s Glow Time Full Coverage Mineral BB Cream immediately helps disguise blemishes, pores and discoloration by way of an adjustable; medium to full coverage yet feels and looks totally luminous on skin. The finish is velvet-like so it’s a great bet for those with oily, combination to normal skin. Lastly, this formulation brightens skin over time with a blend of citrus-based botanicals while protecting skin with a natural physical sunscreen of SPF 25. The best way to apply this formulation is with a beauty blending sponge or using a synthetic, mid-sized flat foundation brush. Begin with a dime sized amount and use the back of your hand to coat your brush. Follow by applying to the center part of the face and blending outward in a downward motion.

Blush/Bronzer

Recommended product:

If you normally opt for a cream or powder blush to give cheeks a pop of color, I recommend switching to a gel-cream or a stain for the Summer season as these formulations tend to wear longer and not shift as easily on skin, especially with increased humidity levels and heat. I recommend Josie Maran’s Cheek Gelee as it creates a natural and healthy hint of flush to the cheeks that can easily be applied to cheeks and dabbed onto lips for the perfect, build-able flush. The assortment of bright and bold shades look more intense than they appear in the pot and are a fun and no-fuss way to boost vibrancy on both the complexion and lips. Using fingertips, dab a light coat onto the middle and ring fingers and blend in circular motions along the apples of the cheeks. Finish by dabbing onto the lips.

Recommended product:

For an effortless, sun-kissed effect, this two-in-one bronzer from indie beauty brand, Lilah B. contains both a highlighter with a hint of glow plus a bronzer with a slightly warm undertone to give you an instant, beach babe worthy golden goddess complexion without having to spend hours in the sun. Using a fluffy, round brush, gently swirl both colors into the compact and apply along the hairline and temples, blending downward onto the forehead followed by buffing onto the area along the under-side of the cheeks. Finish by dusting a touch down along the bridge of the nose and chin to complete the look.

Eyes:

Eye Shadow

Recommended product:

Juice Beauty PHYTO-PIGMENTS Cream Shadow Stick $22.00

I love multi-functioning products that allow for ease of use and this cream shadow stick from Juice Beauty delivers with form and function for a foolproof, easy finish. Instead of opting for several powder shadows, a single cream eye shadow can create a modern, effortless look during the summer season. I personally love using gold or bronze toned cream shadows as they warm up the eyes instantly and can look so chic. Simply smudge your cream eye shadow onto the upper lashes and buff out for an easy daytime look. For evening apply from the lash line and blend up and outward, just pass the crease. Finish by smudging along the lower lash line for more drama.

Mascara

Recommended product:

A natural mascara that performs in the sweltering heat and humidity can be difficult to come by…. until now. I am definitely partial to 100% Pure’s Fruit Pigmented Ultra Lengthening Mascara as it imparts lashes with both length, separation and volume with no clumpy mess. Naturally derived pigments give lashes color and an anti-oxidant blend of anti-aging ingredients strengthen lashes over time. This mascara is water, smudge and flake proof, as it is water-resistant. I prefer this formulation to waterproof as its much gentler on the lashes and removes easily with a cleanser or makeup wipes.

Lips:

Lip Stain/Tint

Recommended product:

This season, swap your lipstick or gloss out for a tinted lip balm that also protects against the suns damaging rays. The skin on lips is one of the most sensitive areas on the face and often is left forgotten when protecting the face against sun damage. A few swipes of COOLA Suncare’s Mineral Liplux SP30 not only give lips a gorgeous tint. I really love the shade, Nude Beach (muted, neutral pink and it also offers broad spectrum SPF 30 protection with a blend of certified organic ingredients to boot plus healing Cupuacu Butter to help nourish lips. Extra bonus: go ahead and dive right into that pool, this lip conditioner is water-resistant for up to 40 minutes.

Thank you so much, Jo! We'd love to hear your thoughts on some of your favorite green products you're using this summer!